TYPICAL CONVERSION FORMULAS
LOG -> LINEAR VOLTAGE FIELD STRENGTH & POWER DENSITY
dBµV to Volts V = 10 ((dBµV – 120) / 20) dBµV/m to V/m V/m = 10 (((dBµV/m) -120) / 20)
Volts to dBµV dBµV = 20 log(V) + 120 V/m to dBµV/m dBµV/m = 20 log(V/m) + 120
dBV to Volts V = 10 (dBV / 20) dBµV/m to dBmW/m2 dBmW/m2 = dBµV/m – 115.8
Volts to dBV dBV = 20log(V) dBmW/m2 to dBµV/m dBµV/m = dBmW/m2 + 115.8
dBV to dBµV dBµV = dBV +120 dBµV/m to dBµA/m dBµA/m = dBµV/m – 51.5
dBµV to dBV dBV = dBµV - 120 dBµA/m to dBµV/m dBµV/m = dBµA + 51.5
LOG -> LINEAR CURRENT dBµA/m to dBpT DBpT = dBµA/m + 2
dBµA to uA µA = 10 (dBµA / 20) dBpT to dBµA/m dBµA/m = dBpT – 2
µA to dBµA dBµA = 20 log(µA) W/m2 to V/m V/m = SQRT(W/m2 * 377)
dBA to A A = 10 (dBA / 20) V/m to W/m2 W/m2 = (V/m)2 / 377
A to dBA dBA = 20log(A) µT to A/m A/m = µT / 1.25
dBA to dBµA dBµA = dBA + 120 A/m to µT µT = 1.25 * A/m
dBµA to dBA dBA = dBµA -120 E-FIELD ANTENNAS
LOG -> LINEAR POWER Correction Factor dBµV/m = dBµV + AF
dBm to Watts W = 10((dBm – 30)/10) Field Strength V/m = 30 * watts * Gain numeric
meters
Watts to dBm dBm = 10log(W) + 30 Required Power Watts = (V/m * meters)2
30 * Gain numeric
dBW to Watts W = 10(dBW / 10)
Watts to dBW dBW = 10log(W) LOOP ANTENNAS
dBW to dBm dBm = dBW + 30 Correction Factors dBµA/m = dBµV + AF
dBm to dBW dBW = dBm - 30 Assumed E-field for
shielded loops
dBµV/m = dBµA/m + 51.5
TERM CONVERSIONS dBpT = dBµV + dBpT/µV
dBm to dBµV dBµV = dBm + 107 (50Ω)
dBµV = dBm + 10log(Z) + 90 CURRENT PROBES
dBµV to dBm dBm = dBµV – 107 (50Ω)
dBm = dBµV – 10log(Z) – 90
Correction Factor dBµA = dBµV – dB(ohm)
dBm to dBµA dBµA = dBm + 73 (50Ω)
dBµA = dBm – 10log(Z) + 90
Power needed for injection probe given voltage(V) into
50Ω load and Probe Insertion Loss (IL)
dBµA to dBm dBm = dBµA – 73 (50Ω)
dBm = dBµA + 10log(Z) – 90
Watts = 10 ((IL + 10log(V2/50))/10)
dBµA to dBµV dBµV = dBµA + 34 (50Ω)
dBµV = dBµA + 20log(Z)
dBµV to dBµA dBµA = dBµV – 34 (50Ω)
dBµA = dBµV – 20log(Z)
dBmW = dBμV - 107
The constant in the above equation is derived as follows. Power is related to voltage according to
Ohm's law. The Log10 function is used for relative (dB) scales, so applying the logarithmic function
to Ohm's law, simplifying, and scaling by ten (for significant figures) yields:
P = V2 / R
10Log10[P] = 20Log10[V] - 10Log10[50Ω]
Note, the resistance of 50 used above reflects that RF systems are matched to 50Ω. Since RF
systems use decibels referenced from 1 mW, the corresponding voltage increase for every 1 mW
power increase can be calculated with another form of Ohm's law:
V = (PR)0.5 = 0.223 V = 223000 μV
Given a resistance of 50Ω and a power of 1 mW
20Log10[223000 μV] = 107 dB
The logarithmic form of Ohm's law shown above is provided to describe why the log of the
corresponding voltage is multiplied by 20.
dBmW/m2 = dBμV/m - 115.8
The constant in this equation is derived following similar logic. First, consider the poynting vector
which relates the power density (W/m2) to the electric field strength (V/m) by the following equation.
P=|E|2/η
Where η is the free space characteristic impedance equal to 120πΩ. Transforming this equation to
decibels and using the appropriate conversion factor to convert dBW/m2 to dBmW/m2 for power
density and dBV/m to dBμV/m for the electric field, the constant becomes 115.8
dBμV/m = dBμV + AF
Where AF is the antenna factor of the antenna being used, provided by the antenna manufacturer
or a calibration that was performed within the last year.
V/m = 10{[(dBuV/m)-120]/20}
Not much to this one; just plug away!
dBμA/m = dBμV/m - 51.5
To derive the constant for the above equation, simply convert the characteristic impedance of free
space to decibels, as shown below.
20Log10[120π] = 51.5
A/m = 10{[(dBuA/m)-120]/20}
As above, simply plug away.
dBW/m2 = 10Log10[V/m - A/m]
A simple relation to calculate decibel-Watts per square meter.
dBmW/m2 = dBW/m2 + 30
The derivation for the constant in the above equation comes from the decibel equivalent of the
factor of 1000 used to convert W to mW and vice versa, as shown below.
10Log10[1000] = 30
dBpT = dBμA/m + 2.0
In this equation, the constant 2.0 is derived as follows. The magnetic flux density, B in Teslas (T),
is related to the magnetic field strength, H in A/m, by the permeability of the medium in Henrys per
meter (H/m). For free space, the permeability is given as...
μo = 4π x 10-7 H/m
Converting from T to pT and from A/m to μA/m, and deriving the Log, the constant becomes:
240 - 120 + 20Log10[4π x 10-7] = 2.0
dBpT = dBuV + dBpT/uV + Cable Loss
dBuV/m = dBpT + 49.5 dB
TYPICAL_CONVERSION_FORMULAS.pdf
LOG -> LINEAR VOLTAGE
FIELD STRENGTH & POWER DENSITY
LOG -> LINEAR CURRENT
E-FIELD ANTENNAS
TERM CONVERSIONS
CURRENT PROBES